Fragrance Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A fragrance dispenser includes a housing and a plurality of heating elements disposed in the housing. A controller is disposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element. Prongs extend from the housing to provide power to the controller. A volatile material holder is held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material. A mode selector switch is disposed on the housing. A setting of the mode selector switch at least partly determines the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to each heating element. The setting includes at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential and concurrent setting.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/319,606, filed on Jan. 9, 2009.

REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

SEQUENTIAL LISTING

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates generally to a volatile materialdispensing system and, more specifically, to a plug-in volatile materialdispensing system including multiple heating elements to assist in thediffusion of multiple volatile materials.

2. Description of the Background of the Invention

Volatile material dispensing systems that provide multiple sources ofheat to assist in the diffusion of multiple volatile materials into theatmosphere are known in the art. For example, one dispensing systemutilizes multiple porous containers, each having a reservoir filled witha fragrance laden gel. Each container is releasably inserted into ahousing disposed above and spaced from an annular heating element thatmay be energized sequentially. An electrical plug extending from thebody supplies power from a wall outlet. Heat from each heating elementassists in the volatilization of a fragrance from each correspondingcontainer. An LED corresponding to each heating element is lit up whenthe heating element is energized.

In another dispensing system, a container includes two independentreservoirs each filled with a gel, liquid, or solid composition. Thecontainer is releasably held within a housing and an independentlycontrollable heating element is provided for each reservoir to increasethe discharge rate of the gel composition therefrom. The dispensingsystem can be electronically controlled and linked to the operation ofother devices.

The present disclosure contemplates a volatile material dispensingsystem including a multi-reservoir volatile material holder thatprovides for the diffusion of multiple fragrances, non-fragrancingdeodorizers, insecticides, or other volatile materials as known in theart into the atmosphere. Independently controllable heating elementsprovide several modes of possible operation depending upon user andenvironmental inputs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a fragrance dispensercomprises a housing and a plurality of heating elements disposed in thehousing. A controller is disposed in the housing to control an amountand temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element.Prongs extend from the housing to provide power to the controller. Avolatile material holder is held within the housing and includes aplurality of reservoirs adapted to align with the correspondingplurality of heating elements, wherein each of the plurality ofreservoirs includes a volatile material. A mode selector switch isdisposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporal distribution ofpower distributed by the controller to each heating element is at leastpartly determined by a setting of the mode selector switch. The settingincludes at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, anda combined sequential and concurrent setting.

In a different aspect of the present invention, a fragrance dispensercomprises a housing and a plurality of heating elements disposed in thehousing. A controller is disposed in the housing to control an amountand temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating elementin at least one of a sequential setting, a concurrent setting, and acombined sequential and concurrent setting. Prongs extend from thehousing to provide power to the controller. A volatile material holderis held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirsadapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating elements,wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatilematerial.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a fragrance dispensercomprises a housing and a plurality of heating pans disposed in thehousing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes acorresponding heating element disposed therein. A controller is disposedin the housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of powerdistributed to each heating element independently. Prongs extend fromthe housing to provide power to the controller. A volatile materialholder is held within the housing and includes a plurality of reservoirsadapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans,wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatilematerial. A mode selector switch is disposed on the housing, wherein theamount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controllerto each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting ofthe mode selector switch. A light source is disposed proximate to eachheating pan.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a volatilematerial dispensing system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the volatile material dispensing system,taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a sectional view of another embodiment of a volatile materialdispensing system, taken generally along the line 2A-2A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom view of the volatile material dispensingsystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the volatile material dispensing systemof FIG. 2A, taken generally along the line 3A-3A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a base portion of the volatilematerial dispensing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a volatile material holder of thevolatile material dispensing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a modular decorative cover of thevolatile material dispensing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a rear isometric view of the volatile material holder of FIG.5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the volatile material holder of FIGS. 5and 7, taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of a base portion of anotherembodiment of a volatile material dispensing system;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of avolatile material dispensing system;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a base portion of the volatilematerial dispensing system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a volatile material holder of thevolatile material dispensing system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a front elevational view of a modular decorative cover of thevolatile material dispensing system of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a diagram of illustrative modes of operation for a volatilematerial dispensing system and profiles of power applied as a functionof time to each independently controlled heating element thereof; and

FIGS. 15A-15I depict several alternative embodiments of a volatilematerial holder.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description,wherein similar structures have similar reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a volatile material dispensing system 50generally includes a base portion 52 and a modular decorative coverportion 54. In one embodiment, a housing 56 may comprise the baseportion 52 and the modular decorative cover portion 54, as illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3. In another embodiment, a housing 56 a comprises a baseportion 52 a with a slot 53 in a top edge thereof, as illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 3A. In this embodiment, a modular decorative cover portion54 a attaches to the base 52 a. A volatile material holder 58 is heldwithin the housing 56, 56 a and includes a plurality of individualreservoirs 60, for example, two, that each hold a volatile material 62therein. The base and cover portions 52, 52 a, 54, 54 a may beconstructed from an injection-molded plastic, such as polypropylene, ormay be constructed from a different material such as glass orcopolyester resin.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the base portion 52, 52 a includes a pluralityof heating pans 64. A heating element 66 is centrally disposed withineach heating pan 64 such that an exposed surface 68 of the heatingelement 66 is approximately flush with the surrounding surface of theheating pan 64. Each heating element 66 is independently controllable bya control circuit or controller 70 (not shown) disposed on the baseportion 52, 52 a. As more fully discussed hereinbelow, the controller 70independently controls the amount and temporal distribution of power toeach of the heating elements 66.

Angled recesses 72 disposed in a front surface 74 of the base portion52, 52 a receive angled teeth 76 (see FIGS. 2, 2A, and 3) extending froma rear face 78 of the cover portion 54, 54 a to achieve a releasableattachment of the cover portion 54, 54 a to the base portion 52, 52 a.The releasable attachment may be a frictional fit or may be more of asnap fit such that the teeth 76 snap into the recesses 72. A user canseparate the cover portion 54 from the base portion 52 by applyingsufficient force to remove the teeth 76 from the recesses 72. In oneembodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, after separation of the coverportion 54 from the base portion 52, a user may replace an exhaustedvolatile material holder 58 with a fresh volatile material holder 58 andreapply the cover portion 54 to the base portion 52. In anotherembodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the volatile material holder58 is loaded into and unloaded from the base portion 52 a via the slot53 accessible from the top edge thereof. In this embodiment, the housing56 a comprises the base portion 52 a by itself.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the base portion 52, 52 a may include one ormore light sources 80, each disposed proximate to a correspondingheating pan 64. The one or more light sources 80 are illustrated asdisposed on the base portion 52, 52 a and visible through one or morecorresponding lighting orifices 86 when the cover portion 54, 54 a isattached to the base portion 52, 52 a. In other embodiments, the one ormore light sources may be disposed on the cover portion 54, 54 a facingaway from the base portion 52, 52 a, or on the base portion 52, 52 afacing away from the cover portion 54, 54 a to provide a back light.Each light source 80 is in electrical communication with the controller70 and may be illuminated with a constant brightness when any amount ofpower to a corresponding heating element 66 is applied. Alternatively,each light source 80 may be illuminated with a brightness that isproportional to the amount of the power provided by the controller 70 toeach corresponding heating element 66. In another embodiment, one ormore of the light sources 80, or another light source (not shown), maybe illuminated as a night light that is on whenever power is applied tothe controller 70 independent of whether one of the heating elements 66is energized. The one or more light sources 80 may be light emittingdiodes (LED), incandescent bulbs, a combination of each, or anothersource of light or combination of other sources of light as known to onehaving skill in the art.

The base portion 52, 52 a may also include one or more sensors 82, forexample, a light sensor, a sound sensor, or a gas sensor. The one ormore sensors 82 may be disposed on any region of the base portion 52, 52a, for example, within one of the heating pans 64 such that lightreaching the one or more sensors 82 must pass through the correspondingindividual reservoir 60 when the volatile material holder 58 is heldwithin the housing 56, 56 a. Each such sensor 82 is in electricalcommunication with the controller 70 and may provide an input signal tothe controller 70 that the controller 70 uses to determine the amountand temporal distribution of power distributed to each heating element66. Further, the one or more light sources 80 may have various sizes,shapes, and colors and may be configured to change color and/orintensity based on a triggering event detected by the one or moresensors 82, for example, an elapsed time period, or an environmentallight level change. Each sensor 82 may provide an input signal to thecontroller 70 that the controller 70 uses in conjunction with the amountof the power provided to each heating element 66 to determine thebrightness and/or color of each corresponding light source 80. Suchcontrolling input from the sensor 82 may, for example, result in eachlight source 80 being illuminated with a greater brightness when thesensor 82 is exposed to a brighter environment, and each light sourcebeing illuminated with a lesser brightness when the sensor 82 is exposedto a more dimly lit environment. In another embodiment, one or more ofthe light sources 80, or another light source (not shown), may beilluminated as a night light that is on only when the sensor 82 isexposed to a dimly lit or dark environment.

A quantity of ambient light or light from one or more of the lightsources 80 may be transmitted through the volatile material 62 in thereservoirs 60, and as the reservoirs 60 empty of the volatile material62 therein, the quantity of transmitted light may increase. In anotherembodiment, an optical sensor may be utilized to determine the filllevel of one or more of the reservoirs 60 based on the quantity oftransmitted light reaching the sensor and to send an input to thecontroller 70 to illuminate one of the light sources 80, or anotherlight source (not shown), to indicate that the volatile material holder58 is empty and should be replaced. In a further example, a gas sensorsensitive to the fragrance being dispensed may be utilized to determinethe fill level of one or more of the reservoirs by sending an inputsignal to the controller 70 in response to a sensed intensity offragrance. In one embodiment, insertion of the volatile material holder58 into the housing 56, 56 a triggers the sensor 82, for example, alight sensor disposed on a region of the base portion 52, 52 a andoriented to receive light transmitted through one of the reservoirs 60,or engages a switch (not shown) internal to the housing 56, 56 a. Thesensor 82 in response to a change in transmitted light, or the switchupon being engaged, may in conjunction with the controller 70 starttimer circuitry within the controller to count down a predetermined timeperiod, for example, 250 hours, at the conclusion of which one or moreof the light sources 80, or another light source (not shown), isilluminated to indicate that the volatile material holder 58 is emptyand should be replaced.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 3A, and 4, the base portion 52, 52 a may alsoinclude a mode selector switch 84, for example, in electricalcommunication with the controller 70 and disposed along a bottom edge asillustrated. The mode selector switch 84 may include a plurality ofsettings each corresponding to a mode of operation of the volatilematerial dispensing system 50. The particular mode of operation ineffect as determined by the position of the mode selector switch 84 mayat least partly determine the amount and temporal distribution of powerdistributed by the controller to each heating element. In fact, the modeselector switch 84 may generate a signal to the controller 70 that thecontroller 70 uses alone or in conjunction with a signal from each ofthe one or more sensors 82 to determine the amount and temporaldistribution of power distributed by the controller 70 to each heatingelement 66 and/or to determine the brightness of each correspondinglight source 80. The mode selector switch 84 is illustrated as a linearslide switch having multiple settings in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4; however, themode selector switch may be, for example, a rotational selector switch,a set of pushbutton switches, a set of toggle switches, a bank of dipswitches or any sort of selector switch or system of switches as knownin the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3A and 6, the modular cover portion 54, 54 aincludes one or more lighting orifices 86 and one or more sensororifices 88. Each of the lighting orifices 86 allows the underlyinglight source 80 to be visible from outside of the housing 56 when thecover portion 54, 54 a is applied over the base portion 52, 52 a.Similarly, each sensor orifice 88 provides a communicative path betweeneach sensor 82 and the surrounding environment. The modular coverportion 54, 54 a also includes a central opening 90 that may bepartially occluded by a decorative feature 92, for example, one or moreflower patterns as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6. The central opening 90allows volatilized fragrance to freely escape from the volatile materialholder 58 when the cover portion 54, 54 a is applied to the base portion52, 52 a. The modular design of the cover portion 54, 54 a allows a userto change the cover portion 54, 54 a, for example, to match the décor ofa room or create a look that matches the scent being dispensed.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3A, 5, 7, and 8, the volatile material holder 58includes a plurality of independent reservoirs 60. Each of the pluralityof independent reservoirs 60 is entirely surrounded by a flange 94. Anon-porous permeable membrane 96 is adhered to the flange 94 to covereach of the plurality of reservoirs 60 and extends across the volatilematerial holder 58. As noted above, each of the independent reservoirs60 is filled with the volatile material 62, which may comprise an activeingredient for diffusion into the surrounding atmosphere, such as afragrance, air freshener, odor eliminator, or insect repellantinsecticide. It is contemplated that any type of volatile material 62suited for dispersal through the permeable membrane 96 may be used withthe present embodiments described herein. The permeable membrane maycomprise a laminate of several layers of material or may be a singlelayer of material. An impermeable membrane (that may also be a laminateof multiple layers) 98 is releasably adhered to the volatile materialholder 58 over the permeable membrane 96.

The permeable membrane 96 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5 to betransparent. However, both the permeable membrane 96 and the impermeablemembrane 98 may be semi-transparent or opaque and may include colors orindicia such as text, patterns, or symbols printed or otherwise disposedthereon. The volatile material holder 58 is similar to the volatilematerial holders described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,441,360, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

During a non-use state of the volatile material holder 58, theimpermeable laminate 98 substantially inhibits diffusion of the volatilematerial 62 through the permeable membrane 96. During an in use state,the impermeable laminate 98 is removed from the volatile material holder58. A user removes the impermeable laminate 98 by grasping an endthereof and peeling it off the volatile material holder 58. A tab,extension, or other means for grasping (not shown) may be included as anextension of the impermeable laminate 98 to aid in removal of same. Theextension (not shown) is preferably provided at a corner of theimpermeable laminate 98, but may extend from any portion thereof.

Removal of the impermeable laminate 98 from the volatile material holder58 allows for the volatile material 62 to be dispersed into theatmosphere through the permeable membrane 96. In one embodiment, thepermeable membrane 96 has an approximtely constant permeability withtemperature. In another embodiment, the permeable membrane 96 has apermeability that may vary with temperature. For example, the permeablemembrane 96 may be approximately impermeable to the volatile material 62at ambient temperature but may become substantially permeable to thevolatile material 62 at a predetermined elevated temperature aboveambient. This predetermined elevated temperature may be reached by heatinput from the heating elements 66.

In use, as best illustrated by FIG. 2, the volatile material holder 58is held within the base portion 52, 52 a such that each of theindependent reservoirs 60 aligns with a corresponding heating pan 64. Inone embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the volatile materialholder 58 may be secured to the base portion 52 by a friction fitbetween the plurality of reservoirs 60 and the corresponding pluralityof heating pans 64. Alternatively, the volatile material holder 58 maybe secured to the base portion by an adhesive applied, for example,between the flange 94 and the base portion 52. In addition, the volatilematerial holder 58 may also be loosely held in the base portion 52solely by alignment of the independent reservoirs 60 in the heating pans64 because the secure attachment of the cover portion 54 to the baseportion 52 as described hereinabove is sufficient to hold such a looselyfitting volatile material holder 58 in position for use. In anotherembodiment as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the volatile materialholder 58 may be secured within the housing 56 a of the base 52 a by africtional fit within the slot 53, which accommodates and guides theflange 94 during installation of the volatile material holder 58 in thehousing 56 a. A central portion of the top edge of the base portion 52 amay be recessed (not shown) to allow a portion of the flange 94 tooverhang the top edge when the volatile material holder 58 is fullyinstalled in the housing 56 a. This overhang provides a user with a wayto grasp the flange 94 to remove the volatile material holder 58 fromthe base 52 a.

The surface 68 of each heating element 66 may make contact with a bottomsurface 102 of each independent reservoir 60, as shown in FIGS. 2, 2A,and 3A. Alternatively, each of the heating pans 64 may be slightlydeeper than each of the corresponding independent reservoirs 60 suchthat a small gap (not shown) remains between the surface 68 and thesurface 102 when the volatile material holder 58 is held within thehousing 56, 56 a. A small gap may be advantageous in quickly coolingeach of the heating pans 64 to minimize cross-talk after power to thecorresponding heating element 66 is turned off, as described in moredetail below.

Each of the independent reservoirs 60 is heated by independentapplication of power via the controller 70 to each of the heatingelements 66 to accelerate diffusion of the volatile material 62 into theatmosphere. The heating elements 66 are thermally isolated from oneanother by a wall 100 therebetween. Thermal isolation between theheating elements 66 helps to minimize thermal cross-talk between theheating pans 64, which allows more precise independent control of thevolatilization of the volatile material 62 from each of the independentreservoirs 60.

To further minimize cross-talk between the heating pans 64, independentventilation passages may be provided through the base 52, 52 a for eachof the heating pans 64. For example, a plurality of ventilation holes101, as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 9, may be disposed through the base52, 52 a. The plurality of ventilation holes 101 are positioned aboveand below each of the heating pans 64 when the material dispensingsystem 50 is oriented vertically in an in-use position. Such positioningpromotes accelerated dissipation of heat from each of the de-energizedheating pans 64 as a result of a convective upward flow of air betweeneach of the heating pans 64 and the corresponding reservoir 60. The baseportion 52 a in FIG. 3A includes the slot 53 disposed in the top edgethereof to further provide an exit path for the convective upward flowof air. In addition, a fan (not shown) may be added to the base portion52, 52 a to force air to flow therethrough. Increased airflow throughthe base portion 52, 52 a may enhance the convective upward flow of airor may enhance distribution of the volatile material 62 from theindependent reservoirs 60 into the environment.

Alternatively, a series of ventilation slots 101 a may be disposedthrough bottom and top edges of the base portion 52, 52 a, asillustrated in FIG. 9. The plurality of ventilation slots 101 a providethe same function as the plurality of ventilation holes 101 describedhereinabove, and may also include a fan for enhancement of air flowthrough the base portion 52, 52 a.

It is contemplated that another embodiment may include a single heatingelement (not shown) that may be moved with respect to multipleindependent and thermally isolated reservoirs (not shown). This may beaccomplished by moving the single heating element with respect to fixedreservoirs, moving one or more of the reservoirs with respect to a fixedsingle heating element, or some combination of motion of the singleheating element and the reservoirs.

Referring to FIGS. 2A, 3, and 9, the base portion 52, 52 a furtherincludes electrical prongs 104 that are in electrical communication withthe controller 70 and extend substantially perpendicularly from a rearsurface 106 of the base portion 52, 52 a. The electrical prongs 104 areadapted to be inserted into a wall outlet to provide power to thevolatile material dispensing device 50. In one embodiment, illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 9, the electrical prongs 104 may be folded into grooves108 that are defined in a protruding section 110 of the rear surface 106such that when folded flat, the electrical prongs 104 do not extendbeyond the protruding section 110. In another embodiment, an electricalcord (not shown) extends from a rear surface of the base portion 52, 52a and includes a plug for plugging into a wall outlet.

Another embodiment of a volatile material dispensing system 150, asshown in FIGS. 10-13, is substantially similar to the volatile materialdispensing system described hereinabove with regard to FIGS. 1-6 exceptfor the following differences. A base portion 152 is releasablyattachable to a modular decorative cover portion 154 of a housing 156. Avolatile material holder 158 is held within the housing 156 and in thisembodiment includes three individual reservoirs 160 that each holds avolatile material 62 therein. Alternatively, a base portion (not shown)that is similar to the base portion 52 a described hereinabove andillustrated in FIG. 3A may include a slot to define a housing thataccepts the volatile material holder 158. The base portion 152 includesthree heating pans 164. A heating element 166 is centrally disposedwithin each heating pan 164 such that an exposed surface 168 of theheating element 166 is approximately flush with the surrounding surfaceof the heating pan 164.

In the present embodiment the base portion 152 includes three lightsources 180, each disposed proximate to a corresponding heating pan 164.The modular cover portion 154 includes three lighting orifices 186 and acentral opening 190 that may be partially occluded by multipledecorative features 192, for example, two flower patterns as illustratedin FIGS. 10 and 13. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, the volatile materialholder 158 includes three independent reservoirs 160. Each of theplurality of independent reservoirs 160 is entirely surrounded by aflange 194. Further, each of the independent reservoirs 160 is heated byindependent application of power via the controller 70 to each of theheating elements 166 to accelerate diffusion of the volatile material 62into the atmosphere. The heating elements 166 are thermally isolatedfrom one another by walls 200 therebetween.

Any of the embodiments described hereinabove may be operated in any oneor all of several modes of operation. Each mode of operation is definedby a temporal relationship of application of power to the plurality ofheating elements. The several modes of operation may be broadlyclassified into three general classes of sequential, concurrent, andmixed. It is contemplated that in addition to the possible modes ofoperation described hereinabove, the profile of power applied to each ofthe plurality of heating elements 66, 166 may be varied as a function oftime. For example, the controller may distribute power to a heatingelement as an approximate step function, a ramp-up or ramp-down that isapproximately linear with time, an approximate exponential function thatasymptotically approaches a maximum or minimum value, or some otherrelationship. Alternatively, the controller 70 may distribute power to aheating element using a pulse width modulation scheme of repeated shortbursts as is known in the art. The pulse width modulation scheme may beoverlaid on any of the above-mentioned power profiles. During operation,each of the plurality of heating elements 66, 166 may have a differentprofile of power applied thereto. In addition, during operation withinany of the above-described modes of operation, one or all of theplurality of heating elements may have profiles of power applicationthat change from one cycle of the mode of operation to the next cycle ofthe mode of operation.

FIG. 14 illustrates each of the three general classes of the modes ofoperation for a volatile material dispensing system, which in thepresent example is illustrated by the volatile material dispensingsystem 150 which includes three independently controlled heatingelements 166. The times t₀ and t₉ illustrated in FIG. 14 may be evenlyspaced to represent equal time periods or unevenly spaced to representunequal time periods. For example, in a sequential mode of operation,power is applied for a given time period by the controller 70 to each ofthe plurality of heating elements 166 in turn without overlap of thetime periods. A sequential mode of operation is illustrated for thethree heating elements 166 between times t₆ and t₉ in FIG. 14. Each ofthe time periods between t₆ and t₉ may be of equal duration or ofunequal duration. In a concurrent mode of operation, power is appliedconcurrently for a given time period by the controller 70 to two or moreof the three heating elements 166. A concurrent mode of operation isillustrated for three heating elements 166 between times t₀ and t₆ inFIG. 14. In a mixed mode of operation, both sequential and concurrentmodes of operation are used in a repeating or possibly random fashion. Amixed mode of operation is illustrated for the three heating elements166 between times t₀ and t₂ in FIG. 14. Note that two of the threeheating elements 166 are energized for the entire time between t₀ andt₂; however, power is also sequentially distributed from the firstheating element (top) to the third heating element (bottom) during thistime.

FIG. 14 also illustrates a variety of power profiles applied to each ofthe three heating elements 166. A power profile approximating astep-function is illustrated for the first heating element (top) for thetime period between times t₀ and t₁. Power profiles that ramp-up and/orramp-down are also illustrated for the first heating element (top)between time periods t₂ and t₆. Power profiles that approximate a risingor falling exponential function are illustrated for the second heatingelement (middle) between times t₃ and t₅. Power profiles that utilize apulse width modulation scheme are illustrated as overlaid on the ramp-upprofile of the first heating element (top) between times t₃ and t₄, andoverlaid on the approximate step-function profile of the third heatingelement (bottom) between times t₄ and t₅.

Any of the embodiments described herein may be modified to include anyof the structures or methodologies disclosed in connection withdifferent embodiments. Further, the present disclosure is not limited tovolatile material dispensing systems of the type specifically shown. Forexample, the base portion 52, 52 a and the cover portion 54, 54 a mayhave any regular or irregular polygonal shape as desired includingrectangular as illustrated hereinabove, trapezoidal, pentagonal,hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal or may have any number of sides or asmooth continuous edge in the form of a circle, an ellipse, a snowman, aletter or word, a logo, a pattern, or any combination of curvilinear andstraight edges. The cartridges may have rectangular reservoirs asillustrated hereinabove, or may have reservoirs having any polygonalshape as can be accommodated by the cartridge. For example, severalpossible reservoir configurations are illustrated in FIGS. 15A-15I. Themultiple independent reservoirs 60 may have different capacities and maycontain different volatile materials such as fragrances, non-fragrancingdeodorizers, insecticides, or other volatile materials as known in theart. In addition, the multiple independent reservoirs 60 may be coveredby individual permeable membranes that each has a permeability tailoredto the particular material within the corresponding reservoir ortailored to a specific heat application profile for the correspondingreservoir.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A fragrance dispenser including multiple volatile fragrances supplied ina single volatile material holder is presented. The fragrance dispenserincludes independently controllable heating elements to provide heat toeach volatile fragrance. A mode selector switch and input from one ormore sensors may be used to determine a mode of operation of themultiple heating elements of the fragrance dispenser. Several modes ofoperation are possible as well as several underlying temporal profilesfor the application of power to each individual heating element.

Numerous modifications to the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description.Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative onlyand is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art tomake and use the invention and to teach the best mode of carrying outsame. The exclusive rights to all modifications which come within thescope of the appended claims are reserved.

We claim:
 1. A fragrance dispenser, comprising: a housing; a pluralityof heating elements disposed in the housing; a controller disposed inthe housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of powerdistributed to each heating element; prongs that extend from the housingto provide power to the controller; a volatile material holder heldwithin the housing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted toalign with the corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein eachof the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material; and a modeselector switch disposed on the housing, wherein the amount and temporaldistribution of power distributed by the controller to each heatingelement is at least partly determined by a setting of the mode selectorswitch, wherein the setting includes at least one of a sequentialsetting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential and concurrentsetting.
 2. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile ofpower distributed by the controller to at least one of the heatingelements comprises a step function.
 3. The fragrance dispenser of claim1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at leastone of the heating elements comprises at least one of a ramp-up andramp-down function.
 4. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein aprofile of power distributed by the controller to at least one of theheating elements comprises an exponential function.
 5. The fragrancedispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by thecontroller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a functionof time in a pulse width modulation scheme.
 6. The fragrance dispenserof claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller toat least one heating element is different than the profile of powerdistributed to a different heating element.
 7. The fragrance dispenserof claim 1, wherein the temporal distribution of the power distributedto at least one of the heating elements further comprises at least oneof a plurality of equally and unequally spaced time periods.
 8. Thefragrance dispenser of claim 1, wherein a profile of power distributedby the controller to at least one of the heating elements varies from afirst cycle of power distributed by the controller to a second cycle ofpower distributed by the controller to the at least one heating element.9. The fragrance dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a sensordisposed on the housing and in electrical communication with thecontroller, wherein a signal from the sensor is used in conjunction withthe setting of the mode selector switch to determine the amount andtemporal distribution of power distributed by the controller to eachheating element.
 10. A fragrance dispenser, comprising: a housing; aplurality of heating elements disposed in the housing; a controllerdisposed in the housing to control an amount and temporal distributionof power distributed to each heating element, wherein the controllerdistributes power to each heating element in at least one of asequential setting, a concurrent setting, and a combined sequential andconcurrent setting; prongs that extend from the housing to provide powerto the controller; and a volatile material holder held within thehousing and including a plurality of reservoirs adapted to align withthe corresponding plurality of heating elements, wherein each of theplurality of reservoirs includes a volatile material.
 11. The fragrancedispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributed by thecontroller to at least one of the heating elements comprises a stepfunction.
 12. The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile ofpower distributed by the controller to at least one of the heatingelements comprises at least one of a ramp-up and ramp-down function. 13.The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of powerdistributed by the controller to at least one of the heating elementscomprises an exponential function.
 14. The fragrance dispenser of claim10, wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at leastone of the heating elements comprises a function of time in a pulsewidth modulation scheme.
 15. The fragrance dispenser of claim 10,wherein a profile of power distributed by the controller to at least oneheating element is different than the profile of power distributed to adifferent heating element.
 16. The fragrance dispenser of claim 10,wherein the temporal distribution of the power distributed to at leastone of the heating elements further comprises at least one of aplurality of equally and unequally spaced time periods.
 17. Thefragrance dispenser of claim 10, wherein a profile of power distributedby the controller to at least one of the heating elements varies from afirst cycle of power distributed by the controller to a second cycle ofpower distributed by the controller to the at least one heating element.18. The fragrance dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a sensordisposed on the housing and in electrical communication with thecontroller, wherein a signal from the sensor at least partly determinesthe amount and temporal distribution of power distributed by thecontroller to each heating element.
 19. A fragrance dispenser,comprising: a housing; a plurality of heating pans disposed in thehousing, wherein each of the plurality of heating pans includes acorresponding heating element disposed therein; a controller disposed inthe housing to control an amount and temporal distribution of powerdistributed to each heating element independently; prongs that extendfrom the housing to provide power to the controller; a volatile materialholder held within the housing and including a plurality of reservoirsadapted to align with the corresponding plurality of heating pans,wherein each of the plurality of reservoirs includes a volatilematerial; a mode selector switch disposed on the housing, wherein theamount and temporal distribution of power distributed by the controllerto each heating element is at least partly determined by a setting ofthe mode selector switch; and a light source disposed proximate to eachheating pan.
 20. The fragrance dispenser of claim 19, further includinga sensor disposed in the housing, wherein a signal from the sensor isused in conjunction with the setting of the mode selector switch todetermine the amount and temporal distribution of power distributed bythe controller to each heating element.